U.S. patent application number 16/897565 was filed with the patent office on 2021-01-21 for image processing system enabling easy checking of ocr error image data, image forming apparatus, method of controlling image processing system, method of controlling image forming apparatus, and storage medium.
The applicant listed for this patent is CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Shinsaku Kobayashi.
Application Number | 20210021719 16/897565 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004886512 |
Filed Date | 2021-01-21 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210021719 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kobayashi; Shinsaku |
January 21, 2021 |
IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM ENABLING EASY CHECKING OF OCR ERROR IMAGE
DATA, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE
PROCESSING SYSTEM, METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS,
AND STORAGE MEDIUM
Abstract
A image processing system which make it possible to reduce user
time and effort in checking OCR error image data. The image
processing system performs OCR processing on image data generated
by an image forming apparatus in response to selection of an object
by a user and stores the image data in a folder having a folder
name formed by using a character string obtained by the OCR
processing. The system includes a storage control unit configured
to store the image data, in a case where the character string
obtained by performing the OCR processing on the generated image
data does not satisfy a predetermined condition, in a folder
associated with the object.
Inventors: |
Kobayashi; Shinsaku;
(Toride-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004886512 |
Appl. No.: |
16/897565 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00238 20130101;
H04N 1/00214 20130101; H04N 1/00331 20130101; H04N 1/00225
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 18, 2019 |
JP |
2019-132794 |
Claims
1. An image processing system that performs OCR processing on an
image data generated by an image forming apparatus by a user and
stores, in response to selection of an object, the image data in a
folder having a folder name formed by using a character string
obtained by the OCR processing, comprising a storage control unit
configured to store the image data, in a case where the character
string obtained by performing the OCR processing on the generated
image data does not satisfy a predetermined condition, in a folder
associated with the object.
2. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the
folder associated with the object is provided in a server that
receives the image data from the image forming apparatus.
3. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the
folder associated with the object is provided in the image forming
apparatus.
4. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein in the
case where the character string obtained by performing the OCR
processing on the generated image data does not satisfy the
predetermined condition, the storage control unit stores the image
data in a folder which is subordinate to the folder associated with
the object and has a specific name.
5. The image processing system according to claim 4, wherein the
specific name includes a character string indicating a user who
logged into the image forming apparatus.
6. The image processing system according to claim 4, wherein the
specific name includes a character string indicating a date on
which the document was read.
7. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the
name of the folder associated with the object includes a character
string indicating an OCR error having occurred in the OCR
processing.
8. The image processing system according to claim 1, further
comprising a reception unit configured to receive a request for
setting a notification destination to be associated with the
object, and wherein in the case where the character string obtained
by performing the OCR processing on the generated image data does
not satisfy the predetermined condition, details of the OCR error
having occurred in the OCR processing are notified to the
notification destination associated with the object.
9. An image forming apparatus that reads a document by a user to
thereby generate an image data, performs OCR processing on the
image data, and stores, in response to selection of an object, the
image data in a folder having a folder name formed by using a
character string obtained by the OCR processing, comprising a
storage control unit configured to store the image data, in a case
where the character string obtained by performing the OCR
processing on the generated image data does not satisfy a
predetermined condition, in a folder associated with the
object.
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further
comprising a communication unit configured to perform data
communication with a server that manages the image data, and
wherein in the case where the character string obtained by
performing the OCR processing on the generated image data does not
satisfy the predetermined condition, the storage control unit
transmits the image data to the server such that the image data is
stored in a folder which is associated with the object and is
provided in the server.
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in
the case where the character string obtained by performing the OCR
processing on the generated image data does not satisfy the
predetermined condition, the storage control unit stores the image
data in a folder which is associated with the object and is
provided in the image forming apparatus.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in
the case where the character string obtained by performing the OCR
processing on the generated image data does not satisfy the
predetermined condition, the storage control unit stores the image
data in a folder which is subordinate to the folder associated with
the object and has a specific name.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the
specific name includes a character string indicating a user who
logged into the image forming apparatus.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the
specific name includes a character string indicating a date on
which the document was read.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the
name of the folder associated with the object includes a character
string indicating an OCR error having occurred in the OCR
processing.
16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further
comprising a setting unit configured to a set a notification
destination to be associated with the object, and wherein in the
case where the character string obtained by performing the OCR
processing on the generated image data does not satisfy the
predetermined condition, details of the OCR error having occurred
in the OCR processing are notified to the notification destination
associated with the object.
17. A method of controlling an image processing system that
performs OCR processing on an image data generated by an image
forming apparatus and stores, in response to selection of an object
by a user, the image data in a folder having a folder name formed
by using a character string obtained by the OCR processing,
comprising storing the image data, in a case where the character
string obtained by performing the OCR processing on the generated
image data does not satisfy a predetermined condition, in a folder
associated with the object.
18. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus that reads a
document to thereby generate an image data, performs OCR processing
on the image data, and stores, in response to selection of an
object by a user, the image data in a folder having a folder name
formed by using a character string obtained by the OCR processing,
comprising storing the image data, in a case where the character
string obtained by performing the OCR processing on the generated
image data does not satisfy a predetermined condition, in a folder
associated with the object.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
computer-executable program for executing a method of controlling
an image processing system that performs OCR processing on an image
data generated by an image forming apparatus and stores, in
response to selection of an object by a user, the image data in a
folder having a folder name formed by using a character string
obtained by the OCR processing, wherein the method comprises
storing the image data, in a case where the character string
obtained by performing the OCR processing on the generated image
data does not satisfy a predetermined condition, in a folder
associated with the object.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
computer-executable program for executing a method of controlling
an image forming apparatus that reads a document to thereby
generate an image data, performs OCR processing on the image data,
and stores, in response to selection of an object by a user, the
image data in a folder having a folder name formed by using a
character string obtained by the OCR processing, wherein the method
comprises storing the image data, in a case where the character
string obtained by performing the OCR processing on the generated
image data does not satisfy a predetermined condition, in a folder
associated with the object.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing system,
an image forming apparatus, a method of controlling the image
processing system, a method of controlling the image forming
apparatus, and a storage medium, which make it possible to easily
check OCR error image data.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Conventionally, there have been known an image processing
system including an image forming apparatus and a file server. In
the image processing system, the image forming apparatus reads a
document to generate image data, and transmits the generated image
data to the file server. The file server stores the image data
received from the image forming apparatus in a shared folder
provided therein and allowing viewing from a console section of the
image forming apparatus. The file server manages image data of a
plurality of types of documents different in the format, such as
medical interview sheets and medical diagnosis sheets. In such a
form of usage of the image processing system, with a view to
improving the ease of search of image data by users, image data is
subjected to a dividing process. In the dividing process, the image
forming apparatus performs OCR (optical character recognition)
processing on each generated image data in a predetermined area
thereof from which the type of a document can be identified (see
e.g. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2017-73591).
The image forming apparatus sends the image data to the file server
by designating a folder having a folder name including a character
string obtained by the OCR processing, as a holder whether the
image data is to be stored. The file server stores the image data
in the designated folder. This enables management of image data by
dividing them among folders associated with types of documents,
respectively.
[0003] In the OCR processing, in a case where an OCR error has
occurred in which no specific character string satisfying
conditions for determining a designated folder can be obtained,
image data in which the OCR error has occurred (hereinafter
referred to as "OCR error image data") is stored in a predetermined
error folder. The OCR error image data is stored in the error
folder and is then transferred to a suitable folder by the
user.
[0004] Conventionally, however, if image data of other irrelevant
types are mixed with the OCR error image data in the error folder,
it is necessary for the user to open each image data stored in the
error folder and check the contents thereof so as to determine a
folder where OCR error image data is to be transferred. This costs
the user time and effort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides an image processing system,
an image forming apparatus, a method of controlling the image
processing system, a method of controlling the image forming
apparatus, and a storage medium, which make it possible to reduce
user time and effort in checking OCR error image data.
[0006] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image processing system that performs OCR processing on
an image data generated by an image forming apparatus and stores,
in response to selection of an object by a user, the image data in
a folder having a folder name formed by using a character string
obtained by the OCR processing, comprising a storage control unit
configured to store the image data, in a case where the character
string obtained by performing the OCR processing on the generated
image data does not satisfy a predetermined condition, in a folder
associated with the object.
[0007] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image forming apparatus that reads a document to
thereby generate an image data, performs OCR processing on the
image data, and stores, in response to selection of an object by a
user, the image data in a folder having a folder name formed by
using a character string obtained by the OCR processing, comprising
a storage control unit configured to store the image data, in a
case where the character string obtained by performing the OCR
processing on the generated image data does not satisfy a
predetermined condition, in a folder associated with the
object.
[0008] In a third aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of controlling an image processing system that
performs OCR processing on an image data generated by an image
forming apparatus and stores, in response to selection of an object
by a user, the image data in a folder having a folder name formed
by using a character string obtained by the OCR processing,
comprising storing the image data, in a case where the character
string obtained by performing the OCR processing on the generated
image data does not satisfy a predetermined condition, in a folder
associated with the object.
[0009] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of controlling an image forming apparatus that
reads a document to thereby generate an image data, performs OCR
processing on the image data, and stores, in response to selection
of an object by a user, the image data in a folder having a folder
name formed by using a character string obtained by the OCR
processing, comprising storing the image data, in a case where the
character string obtained by performing the OCR processing on the
generated image data does not satisfy a predetermined condition, in
a folder associated with the object.
[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce
user time and effort in checking OCR error image data.
[0011] Further features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments
(with reference to the attached drawings).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the
configuration of an image processing system according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the
configuration of an image forming apparatus appearing in FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a view showing the appearance of a console section
appearing in FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a management screen
for registering a dividing transmission button to be included in a
home screen appearing in FIG. 3.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a settings edit
screen displayed on a display section of a PC appearing in FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of an address selection
screen displayed on the display section of the PC appearing in FIG.
1.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of display of the
management screen to which information on a medical interview sheet
button has been added.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of display of the home
screen to which the medical interview sheet button has been
added.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a dividing scan control process
performed by the image forming apparatus appearing in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIGS. 10A and 10B are views useful in explaining
determination in a step S906 in FIG. 9.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a diagram useful in explaining a storage
destination where image data obtained by the dividing scan control
process in FIG. 9 is stored.
[0023] FIGS. 12A and 12B are views showing examples of a
notification screen displayed on the console section appearing in
FIG. 2.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a view showing another example of the settings
edit screen displayed on the display section of the PC appearing in
FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a variation of the dividing
scan control process in FIG. 9.
[0026] FIG. 15 is a view showing a still another example of the
settings edit screen displayed on the display section of the PC
appearing in FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 16 is a diagram useful in explaining a storage
destination where OCR error image data is stored.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0028] The present invention will now be described in detail below
with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments
thereof. It should be noted that the embodiment described hereafter
does not limit the scope of the invention claimed in the appended
claims and that not all of a combination of features of the
embodiment are necessarily essential as means for the solution by
the invention.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the
configuration of an image processing system 100 according to the
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the image
processing system 100 is comprised of an image forming apparatus
101, a file server 102, a mail server 103, and a PC 104. The image
forming apparatus 101, the file server 102, the mail server 103,
and the PC 104 are communicably connected to each other via a
network 105. The Internet 106 is connected to the network 105. Note
that the network 105 may be configured such that the
above-mentioned elements are connected thereto by wire or are
wirelessly connected to an access point (not shown) thereof. The
image forming apparatus 101 is communicable with an online storage
107 via the Internet 106.
[0030] The image forming apparatus 101 generates image data by
reading a document, and transmits the image data to one of the file
server 102, the mail server 103, and the online storage 107. The
image data in the embodiment is electronic data formed by
converting an image into RAW data, electronic data in TIFF format,
JPEG format, or the like image format, or electronic data in PDF
format. The file server 102 is compliant with FTP and SMB
protocols, and stores image data received from the image forming
apparatus 101 in folders provided in the file server 102. The user
can view the image data in the folders from a console section 206,
referred to hereinafter with reference to FIG. 2, or a display
section (not shown) of the PC 104. The mail server 103 is compliant
with SMTP protocol. HTTP protocol makes it possible to view or
update settings of the image forming apparatus 101 from the PC 104.
The online storage 107 is compliant with WebDAV which is a file
sharing protocol using HTTP protocol.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the
configuration of the image forming apparatus 101 appearing in FIG.
1. Referring to FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus is comprised of
a controller 200, the console section 206, a reader section 208,
and a printer section 210. The controller 200 is connected to the
console section 206, the reader section 208, and the printer
section 210. Further, the controller 200 is comprised of a CPU 201,
a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a storage 204, a console section interface
205, a reader section interface 207, a printer section interface
209, an external storage interface 211, and a communication section
interface 213. The CPU, the ROM 202, the RAM 203, the storage 204,
the console section interface 205, the reader section interface
207, the printer section interface 209, the external storage
interface 211, and the communication section interface 213 are
connected to each other via a bus 214.
[0032] The controller 200 controls the overall operation of the
image forming apparatus 101. The CPU 201 reads control programs
stored in the ROM 202 or the storage 204 to perform various
controls, such as reading control and printing control. The ROM 202
stores the control programs executed by the CPU 201. The ROM 202
also stores a boot program, font data, etc. The RAM 203 is a main
memory of the CPU 201. The RAM 203 is used as a work area for the
CPU 201, and also as a temporary storage area for loading the
control programs stored in the ROM 202 and the storage 204.
[0033] The storage 204 stores image data, print data, address book
data, programs, and settings data. Although in the embodiment, the
storage 204 is assumed to be a flash memory, this is not
limitative, but the it may be an SSD, an HDD, an eMMC or a like
other auxiliary storage. Note that the image forming apparatus 101
is assumed to be configured such that one CPU 201 performs
processes, described hereinafter, using one RAM 203, but may be
otherwise configured. For example, a plurality of CPUS, RAMs, ROMs
and storages may be caused to cooperate to execute the processes
described hereinafter. Further, a hardware circuit, such as an ASIC
(Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA
(Field-Programmable Gate Array), may be used to partially execute
the processes.
[0034] The console section interface 205 connects the console
section 206 and the controller 200. The console section 206
displays information to the user and receives an instruction input
by the user e.g. for executing a job. The reader section interface
207 connects the reader section 208 and the controller 200. The
reader section 208 reads an image on a document and converts the
image to image data of e.g. binary data. The image data generated
by the reader section 208 is transmitted to the external storage
device 212 for storage, or printed on a sheet. The printer section
interface 209 connects the printer section 210 and the controller
200. The printer section interface 209 acquires image data as an
object to be printed from the CPU 201 and transfers the acquired
image data to the printer section 210. The printer section 210
prints an image on a sheet fed from a sheet feeder cassette (not
shown).
[0035] The external storage interface 211 connects the external
storage device 212 and the controller 200. The external storage
interface 211 acquires image data from the CPU 201 and stores the
acquired image data in the external storage device 212. Although in
the present embodiment, the external storage device 212 is assumed
to be a USB memory, this is not limitative, but it may be an SD
card or the like. The communication section interface 213 performs
data communication with an external device connected via the
network 105. For example, the communication section interface 213
transmits E-mails to the mail server 103. Further, the
communication section interface 213 transmits image data to the
filer server 102 and the online storage server 107. For
transmission of the image data, FTP, SMP, WebDAV, SMTP, or like
other protocol is used. The communication section interface 213
transmits information on various settings of the image forming
apparatus 101 to the PC 104. Further, the communication section
interface 213 receives a request for referring to or changing
settings of the image forming apparatus 101 using a Web server
application (not shown) from the PC 104.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a view showing the appearance of the console
section 206 appearing in FIG. 2. The console section 206 is formed
by a touch-panel display. Further, the console section 206 includes
a data LED 305 and an error LED 306. The console section 206
displays various types of screens. For example, when the image
forming apparatus 101 is started up, the console section 206
displays a home screen 300. The home screen 300 is a screen for
prompting the user to select a function desired to use. The home
screen 300 displays a scan button 301, an address book button 302,
a letter-of-introduction button 303, a home button 304, etc. which
are associated with functions of the image forming apparatus 101,
respectively.
[0037] The scan button 301 is used for giving an instruction for
reading a document to generate image data, to the image forming
apparatus 101. The address book button 302 is used for giving an
instruction for displaying an address book management screen (not
shown), to the image forming apparatus 101. On the address book
management screen, destination information of a destination to
which image data is to be transmitted is set. The destination
information includes transmission type information indicating a
transmission type, such as E-mail transmission, SMB transmission,
FTP transmission, and WebDAV transmission, address-related
information, such as an E-mail server, a host name, and a server
name, etc.
[0038] The letter-of-introduction button 303 is a dividing
transmission button. The dividing transmission button is used for
giving an instruction for executing a dividing scan process, to the
image forming apparatus. In the dividing scan process, the image
forming apparatus 101 reads a document to generate image data,
performs OCR processing on the generated image data in an OCR area
thereof, referred to hereinafter, and transmits the image data to a
folder having a folder name of a character string obtained by the
OCR processing. The home button 304 is used for giving an
instruction for displaying the home screen 300 on the console
section 206, to the image forming apparatus 101, and is always
displayed on the console section 206. The data LED 305 and the
error LED 306 notifies the user of a status of the image forming
apparatus 101. The data LED 305 is lit from the start of execution
of an E-mail transmission job or a file transmission job to the end
thereof. The error LED 306 is lit when an error has occurred in the
image forming apparatus 101.
[0039] Next, settings of the dividing transmission button will be
described. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a management
screen 400 for registering a dividing transmission button included
in the home screen 300 appearing in FIG. 3. The management screen
400 is displayed on the display section of the PC 104 when the PC
104 is connected by HTTP to the image forming apparatus 101 via a
browser. The management screen 400 includes an application name
area 401, an application information area 402, a new registration
button 403, and a button information area 404. On the management
screen 400, the user can view information on dividing transmission
buttons already registered.
[0040] The application name area 401 displays the name of an
application program (dividing transmission scan application
program) which is invoked when a dividing transmission button
associated therewith is depressed. In FIG. 4, the application name
area 401 displays the name "dividing transmission scan". The
application information area 402 displays a version of the dividing
transmission scan application program. In FIG. 4, the application
information area 402 displays a version number of 1.00. The new
registration button 403 is a button for newly creating a dividing
transmission button. When the user selects the new registration
button 403, a settings edit screen 500, described hereinafter with
reference to FIG. 5, is displayed on the display section of the PC
104.
[0041] The button information area 404 displays information on
dividing transmission buttons already registered. The button
information area 404 displays the items of a button name 405, a
transmission type 406, and a display status 407, a switching button
408, and a delete button 409. Under the item of the button name
405, there is displayed the name of the registered dividing
transmission button. When the user selects a character string
displayed as the name of the registered dividing transmission
button, the settings edit screen 500 in FIG. 5 is displayed on the
display section of the PC 104, in a state in which settings
associated with the character string are set therein. Under the
item of the transmission type 406, there is displayed a
transmission type, such as "file transmission", which is set for
the registered dividing transmission button. Under the item of the
display status 407, there is displayed information on whether the
registered dividing transmission button is to be displayed on the
console section 206. A dividing transmission button for which
"display" is displayed as the display status 407 is displayed on
the console section 206, whereas a dividing transmission button for
which "not display" is displayed as the display status 407 is not
displayed on the console section 206. The switching button 408 is a
toggle switch for switching the display status 407 between
"display" and "not display". The delete button 409 is used for
deleting the information registered for the dividing transmission
button.
[0042] FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the settings edit
screen 500 displayed on the display section of the PC 104 appearing
in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 5, the settings edit screen 500
(reception unit) includes an input field 501, a pull-down list box
502, a transmission destination area 503, a selection button 504,
an error-time transmission destination area 505, and a selection
button 506. The settings edit screen 500 further includes a
pull-down list box 507, an input field 508, an OCR area designation
button 509, a reading settings button 510, an OK button 511, and a
cancel button 512. The settings edit screen 500 receives a request
for setting settings associated with a dividing transmission
button.
[0043] The input field 501 is an edit box for setting the name of a
dividing transmission button. The pull-down list box 502 is a list
box for selecting the method of naming image data. From the
pull-down list box 502, the user can select one of "button name"
and "date". In a case where the user selects "button name", the
name set in the input field 501 is reflected on the data name of
the image data. In a case where the user selects "date", a date on
which a document was read is reflected on the data name of the
image data.
[0044] In the transmission destination area 503, there is set a
setting of a storage location of image data generated in accordance
with depression of the dividing transmission button. The
transmission destination area 503 is an editable text display area.
The transmission destination area 503 displays a folder path which
is entered or a folder path indicating a storage location selected
via the selection button 504. The selection button 504 is used for
setting a folder serving as a storage location of image data, from
an address book of the image forming apparatus 101. When the user
selects the selection button 504, an address selection screen 600,
described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 6, is displayed on the
display section of the PC 104.
[0045] In the error-time destination area 505, there is set a
setting of a storage location of OCR error image data, which is
image data with which an OCR error occurred in the OCR processing.
The error-time destination area 505 is an editable text display
area. The error-time destination area 505 displays a folder path
which is entered or a folder path indicating a storage location
selected via the selection button 506. The selection button 506 is
used for setting a folder serving as a storage location of OCR
error image data, from the address book of the image forming
apparatus 101. When the user selects the selection button 506, the
address selection screen 600 in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display
section of the PC 104.
[0046] The pull-down list box 507 is an object for setting a
predetermined condition for determining a storage location from a
character string obtained by the OCR processing, specifically, a
type of the character string. The user can select, from the
pull-down list box, one of "only numerals" and "alphanumeric
characters". In the present embodiment, image data from which no
character string satisfying the condition indicated by the setting
of the pull-down list box 507 cannot be acquired by the OCR
processing on an OCR area designated by the OCR area designation
button 509 is treated as OCR error image data. The input field 508
is an object for setting a predetermined condition for determining
a storage location from a character string obtained by the OCR
processing, specifically, an upper limit of the number of
characters. The maximum number which can be set in the input field
508 is e.g. "16". In the present embodiment, image data from which
a character string of characters exceeding in number the setting of
the input field 508 is obtained by the OCR processing on the OCR
area designated by the OCR area designation button 509 is also
treated as OCR error image data.
[0047] The OCR area designation button 509 is used for designating
an OCR area in image data where the OCR processing is to be
performed. When the user selects the OCR area designation button
509, it is possible to designate a rectangular area indicating an
OCR area. The reading settings button 510 is used for setting scan
settings. When the user selects the reading settings button 510, a
detailed settings screen (not shown) concerning a scan function is
displayed on the display section of the PC 104.
[0048] The OK button 511 is used for finalizing the settings in the
settings edit screen 500. When the user selects the OK button 511,
the settings in the settings edit screen 500 are stored in the
storage 504 as dividing scan settings data. The cancel button 512
is used for canceling the settings in the settings edit screen 500.
When the user selects the OK button 511 or the cancel button 512,
the settings edit screen 500 displayed on the display section of
the PC 104 is switched to the management screen 400.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of the address selection
screen 600 displayed on the display section of the PC 104 appearing
in FIG. 1. The address selection screen 600 includes a pull-down
list box 601, a display switching button 602, an area 603, a list
604, an OK button 605, and a cancel button 606.
[0050] The pull-down list box 601 is used for switching a type of
an address book to be displayed on the address selection screen
600. The pull-down list box 601 enables the user to select one of
"best member" and "abbreviated dial" (not shown). The display
switching button 602 is used for giving an instruction for changing
the type of an address book to be displayed on the address
selection screen 600 to a type selected from the pull-down list box
601, to the image forming apparatus 101.
[0051] The area 603 displays the name of the address book. The list
604 displays an address list formed by the elements of selection, a
number, a type, a name, and a destination. For the selection, there
is displayed one of an active checkbox and a disactivated check
box. For the number, a management number is displayed. For the
type, an icon is displayed which varies with the type of an
address. For the name, a name assigned to an address is displayed.
For the destination, the address is displayed.
[0052] The description of display of an active checkbox and a
disactivated check box is supplemented. FIG. 6 shows an example of
the display for selecting an address from the address book of "best
member" in which two addresses of "E mail" and two addresses of
"file" are registered, in a state in which "file transmission" is
set as the transmission type 406 of the management screen 400 in
FIG. 4. Thus, in the address selection screen 600, destinations
compatible with the set transmission type are selectively
displayed. Specifically, an active checkbox is displayed for each
of destinations assigned with the number "03" and the number "04",
which are compatible with the set transmission type. On the other
hand, for each of destinations assigned with the number "01" and
the number "02", which are not compatible with the set transmission
type, a disactivated checkbox is displayed. The OK button 605 is
used for finalizing the settings in the address selection screen
600. The cancel button 606 is used for canceling the settings in
the address selection screen 600. When the user selects the OK
button 605 or the cancel button 606, the address selection screen
600 displayed on the display section of the PC 104 is switched to
the settings edit screen 500. In the transmission destination area
503 (or the error-time transmission destination area 505) of the
settings edit screen 500 to which the address selection screen 600
is switched, the folder path corresponding to the settings in the
address selection screen 600 is displayed.
[0053] To set a dividing transmission button, assuming, for
example, that the user selects the OK button 511 on the settings
edit screen 500 in which settings concerning a dividing
transmission button having the name of "medical interview sheet"
are set as shown in FIG. 5, the settings edit screen 500 displayed
on the display section of the PC 104 is switched to the management
screen 400. As shown in FIG. 7, in the button information area 404
of the management screen 400 to which the settings edit screen 500
is switched, information concerning the dividing transmission
button having the name of "medical interview sheet" is added.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, in the home screen 300 displayed on
the console section 206 of the image forming apparatus 101, a
medical interview sheet 801 (object), which corresponds to the
information added to the button information area 404, is added.
When the use depresses the medical interview button 801 on the home
screen 300, the image forming apparatus 101 performs the dividing
scan process shown in FIG. 9 based on the dividing scan settings
data associated with the medical interview button 801.
[0054] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the dividing scan control process
performed by the image forming apparatus 101 appearing in FIG. 1.
The dividing scan control process in FIG. 9 is realized by the CPU
201 executing a program loaded from the ROM 202 or the storage 204
into the RAM 203. The dividing scan control process is executed
when the user depresses a dividing transmission button displayed on
the home screen 300. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that
folders where image data is to be stored are provided in the file
server 102.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 9, when the CPU 201 detects depression of
a dividing scan transmission button on the home screen 300, e.g.
depression of the medical interview button 801 (YES to the step
S901), the CPU 201 acquires dividing scan settings data of the
medical interview button 801 (step S902). The dividing scan
settings data of the medical interview button 801 includes a
plurality of settings concerning the medical interview button 801
set on the settings edit screen 500. Then, the CPU 201 controls the
reader section 208 to read a document placed thereon (step S903)
and thereby generate image data of the document (step S904). Then,
the CPU 201 performs OCR processing on the generated image data
(step S905). In the step S905, the CPU 201 performs the OCR
processing, for example, an OCR area 1002, which is set in advance
on the settings read screen 500, of image data 1001 shown in FIG.
10A. In an example shown in FIG. 10A, a five-character string
"12345", which is formed only by five numerals. Then, the CPU 201
determines, based on the character string obtained by the OCR
processing, whether or not the image data generated in the step
S904 is OCR error image data (step S906). Specifically, the
determination in the step S906 is performed by determining whether
the character string obtained by the OCR processing satisfies
conditions indicated by the settings of the pull-down list box 507
and the input field 508, included in the dividing scan settings
data, e.g. conditions that the character string is formed by only
numerals and that the number of characters of the character string
is within the upper limit of 5. For example, in a case where the
image data 1001 shown in FIG. 10A is generated in the step S904,
the character string "12345" is obtained from the OCR area 1002 of
the image data 1001 in the step S905. The character string "12345"
satisfies the conditions that the character string is formed by
only numerals and that the number of characters of the character
string is within the upper limit of 5, the CPU 201 determines that
the image data generated in the step 904 is not OCR error image
data. On the other hand, in a case where image data 1003 shown in
FIG. 10B is generated in the step S904, the character string "AAA"
is obtained from an OCR area 1004 of the image data 1003 in the
step S905. The character string "AAA" does not satisfy the
conditions that the character string is formed by only numerals and
that the number of characters of the character string is within the
upper limit of 5, the CPU 201 determines that the image data
generated in the step 904 is OCR error image data.
[0056] If it is determined that the image data generated in the
step 904 is not OCR error image data, the CPU 201 transmits the
image data to the file server 102. Specifically, the CPU 201 sets a
folder determined based on the dividing scan settings data and the
character string obtained by the OCR processing, as the storage
location, and transmits the image data to the folder (step S907).
For example, the CPU 201 transmits the image data to the file
server 102 so as to store the image data in one of folders 1102a to
1102c, appearing in FIG. 11, which are subordinate to the folder
1101 indicated by the setting of the transmission destination area
503 included in the dividing scan settings data, i.e. a folder
1102a having the folder name of "12345" which is a character string
obtained by the OCR processing. While the image data is being
transmitted in the step S907, a notification screen 1200 shown in
FIG. 12A is displayed on the console section 206. The notification
screen 1200 includes a preview image 1201, a folder path 1202, and
a data name 1203. The preview image 1201 is a RAW image for liquid
crystal display, which is converted from read image data of a
document. The folder path 1202 indicates a storage location of the
image data. In FIG. 12A, as the folder path 1202, there is
displayed a folder path having a name formed by combining the
setting " file server medical interview sheet" of the transmission
destination area 503 included in the dividing scan settings data
and "12345" which is a character string obtained from the OCR area.
The data name 1203 is a data name of the image data. When the
transmission of the image data is completed, the CPU 201 closes the
notification screen 1200 and terminates the present process.
[0057] If it is determined in the step S906 that the image data
generated in the step 904 is OCR error image data, the CPU 201
determines whether there has already been set a storage location of
the OCR error data item (step S908). In the step S908, for example,
if the dividing scan settings data includes a setting of the
error-time transmission area 505, the CPU 201 determines that there
has already been set a storage location of the OCR error image
data. On the other hand, if the dividing scan settings data
includes no setting of the error-time transmission area 505, the
CPU 201 determines that there has been set no storage location of
the OCR error image data.
[0058] If it is determined in the step S908 that there has already
been set a storage location of the OCR error image data, the CPU
201 transmits the image data to the file server 102. Specifically,
the CPU 201 transmits image data to the file server 102 so as to
store the image data in a storage location which is a folder
indicated by the setting of the error-time transmission area 505
included in the dividing scan settings data (step S909) (operation
of a storage control unit). In the step S909, for example, the CPU
201 transmits the image data to the filer server 102 so as to store
the image data a folder 1103 appearing in FIG. 11, as the storage
location indicated by the setting of the error-time transmission
area 505 included in the dividing scan settings data. While the
image data is being transmitted, a notification screen 1204 shown
in FIG. 12B is displayed on the console section 206. The
notification screen 1204 includes a preview screen 1205, a folder
path 1206, and a data name 1207. The preview image 1205 is a RAW
image for liquid crystal display, which is converted from read
image data of a document. The folder path 1206 is a storage
location of the image data transmitted in the step S909. In FIG.
12B, as the folder path 1206, there is displayed a folder path
having a name formed by the setting " ile server error image
medical interview sheet" of the error-time transmission destination
area 505 included in the dividing scan settings data. The data name
1207 is a data name of the image data. When the transmission of the
image data is completed, the CPU 201 closes the notification screen
1204, followed by terminating the present process.
[0059] If it is determined in the S908 that there has been set no
storage location of OCR error image data, the CPU 201 transmits the
image data to the file server 102 so as to store the image data in
a storage location which is set to a designated folder different
from the folder designated in the step S909 (step S910), followed
by terminating the present process. The file server 102 having
received the image data stores the image data in the designated
folder. As described above, the file server 102 stores, for
example, image data which is not OCR error image data in one of the
folder 1102a to 1102c subordinate to the folder 1101 designated by
the setting of the transmission destination area 503 included in
the dividing scan settings data, i.e. the folder 1102a having a
folder name of "12345" which is the character string obtained by
OCR processing. Further, the file server 102 stores OCR error image
data in the folder 1103 indicated by the setting of the error-time
transmission destination area 505 included in the dividing scan
settings data. If the designated folder does not exist, the filer
server 102 creates a designated folder and stores the image data in
the designated folder.
[0060] According to the embodiment described above, in a case where
image data generated according to depression of the medical
interview button 801 is OCR error image data, the image data is
stored in a folder indicated by the setting of the error-time
transmission destination area 505 included in the dividing scan
settings data of the medical interview button 801. In other words,
a different folder is set as a storage location of OCR error image
data, on a dividing transmission button basis. This makes it
possible to put OCR error image data in order, by dividing them
between respective folders associated with dividing transmission
buttons, which makes it possible to reduce user time and effort in
checking OCR error image data.
[0061] Further, in the embodiment described above, the folder
indicated by the setting of the error-time transmission destination
area 505 included in the dividing scan settings data is provided in
the file server 102. This makes it possible to reduce user time and
effort in checking OCR error image data, in an environment in which
OCR error image data is stored in the filer 102.
[0062] Although the present invention has been described heretofore
based on the embodiment, the invention is by no means limited to
the embodiment described above. For example, the management screen
400, the settings edit screen 500, and the address selection screen
600 may be displayed on the console section 206 of the image
forming apparatus 101.
[0063] Further, in the above-described embodiment, in a case where
the image data generated in the step S904 is an OCR error data
item, an error notification notifying the user of details of an
error may be transmitted.
[0064] FIG. 13 is a view showing another example of the settings
edit screen, denoted by reference numeral 1300, which is displayed
on the display section of the PC 104 appearing in FIG. 1. The
settings edit screen 1300 includes, in addition to the items of the
settings edit screen 500, an error notification transmission
destination area 1301 and a selection button 1302. In the error
notification transmission destination area 1301, there is set a
setting of a transmission destination (notification destination) of
an error notification in a case where image data generated in the
step S904 is OCR error image data. In the error notification
transmission destination area 1301, there is displayed an entered
E-mail address or an E-mail address selected via the selection
button 1302, which indicates a transmission destination. The
selection button 1302 is used for setting an E-mail address
indicating the transmission destination of an error notification,
by selection from the address book of the image forming apparatus
101. When the user selects the selection button 1302, the address
selection screen 600 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the PC
104.
[0065] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a variation of the dividing scan
control process shown in FIG. 9, which is performed in a case where
a dividing transmission button, which is depressed, was set using
the settings edit screen 1300. The dividing scan control process
shown in FIG. 14 as well is executed by the CPU 201 loading a
program from the ROM 202 or the storage 204 into the RAM 203, and
is executed when the user depresses the dividing transmission
button displayed in the home screen 300. In the dividing scan
control process shown in FIG. 14 as well, it is assumed that
folders for storing image data is provided in the file server
102.
[0066] In FIG. 14, the CPU 201 executes the steps S901 to S910.
When the processing in the step S909 or the step S910 is completed,
the CPU 201 determines whether or not there has already been set a
notification destination of an error notification (step S1401). In
the step S1401, if the setting of the error notification
transmission destination area 1301 is included in the acquired
dividing scan settings data, the CPU 201 determines that there has
already been set a transmission destination of the error
notification. On the other, if no setting of the error notification
transmission destination area 1301 is included in the acquired
dividing scan settings data, the CPU 201 determines that there has
been set no transmission destination of the error notification.
[0067] If it is determined in the step S1401 that here has already
been set a transmission destination of the error notification, the
CPU 201 transmits the error notification to the transmission
destination indicated by the setting of the error notification
transmission destination area 1301 (step S1402) and terminates the
present process. If is determined in the step S1401 that here has
been set no transmission destination of the error notification, the
CPU 201 terminates the present process without transmitting the
error notification.
[0068] In the embodiment described above, in a case where image
data is OCR error image data, an error notification is transmitted
to a transmission destination indicated by the setting of the error
notification transmission destination area 1301 included in the
dividing scan settings data. This enables the user to easily grasp
details of an OCR error.
[0069] In the embodiment described above, OCR error image data may
be stored in a folder subordinate to the folder indicated by the
setting of the error-time transmission destination 505.
[0070] FIG. 15 is a view showing a still another example of the
settings edit screen, denoted by reference numeral 1500, which is
displayed on the display section of the PC 104 appearing in FIG. 1.
The settings edit screen 1500 includes, in addition to the items of
the settings edit screen 1300 shown in FIG. 13, a pull-down list
box 1501. The pull-down list box 1501 is a list box for making a
setting of a folder subordinate to the folder indicated by the
setting of the error-time transmission destination area 505. From
the pull-down list box 1501, it is possible to select one of "not
create", "login user name", and "date". In a case where the user
selects "not create", an OCR error image data is stored in the
folder indicated by the setting of the error-time transmission
destination area 505 included in the dividing scan settings data.
In a case where the user selects "login user name", the OCR error
image data is stored in a folder subordinate to the folder
indicated by the setting of the error-time transmission destination
area 505 included in the dividing scan settings data and having a
folder name of a character string indicating a user who logged into
the image forming apparatus 101. In a case where the user selects
"date", the OCR error image data is stored in a folder subordinate
to the folder indicated by the setting of the error-time
transmission destination area 505 included in the dividing scan
settings data and having a folder name of a date on which a
document was read.
[0071] For example, a description is given of a case where a user
who logged into the image forming apparatus 101 using a user name
"Sato" has depressed the medical interview sheet button 801
associated with dividing scan settings data including "login user
name" as the setting of the pull-down list box 1501. OCR error
image data generated this time is stored in a folder 1601,
appearing in FIG. 16, which is subordinate to the folder 1103
indicated by the setting of the error-time transmission destination
area 505 included in the dividing scan settings data of the medical
interview sheet button 801 and has a folder name "Sato".
[0072] Further, OCR error image data generated when a user who
logged into the image forming apparatus 101 as a guest user has
depressed the medical interview sheet button 801 is stored in a
folder 1602, appearing in FIG. 16, which is subordinate to the
folder 1103 and has a folder name "Guest"
[0073] In the embodiment described above, in a case where image
data is OCR error image data, the image data is stored in a folder
subordinate to the folder indicated by the setting of the
error-time transmission destination area 505 included in the
dividing scan settings data and having a specific name associated
with the setting of the pull-down list box 1501. The specific name
is a character string indicating a user who logged into the image
forming apparatus 101. This makes it possible to suppress image
data generated in response to an instruction by a different user
from being mixedly stored in the folder where OCR error image data
by one user is stored.
[0074] Further, in the embodiment described above, the specific
name is a character string indicating the date on which a document
was read. This makes it possible to suppress image data generated
on a different date from being mixedly stored in a folder where OCR
error data items generated on one data are stored.
[0075] Further, in the embodiment described above, image data which
is not OCR error image data and OCR error image data are
transmitted to respective different servers.
[0076] Although in the embodiment described above, folders where
image data is stored are provided in the file server 102, this is
not limitative, but, for example, the folders where image data is
stored may be provided in the image forming apparatus 101. This
makes it possible, under an environment in which image data is
managed in the image forming apparatus 101, to reduce user time and
effort in checking the OCR error image data.
[0077] In the embodiment described above, it is preferable that the
name of a folder indicated by the setting of the error-time
transmission destination area 505 included in the diving scan
settings data includes a character string indicating an OCR error
having occurred in the OCR processing. For example, the name of a
folder wherein OCR error image data which does not satisfy the
condition of the input field 508 included in the dividing scan
settings data is set to "medical interview sheet_character number
error". This makes it possible to easily know details of an OCR
error from the name of a folder where OCR error image data is
stored.
[0078] Further, in the embodiment described above, the name of a
folder where OCR error image data is to be stored may be determined
by the image forming apparatus.
Other Embodiments
[0079] Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized
by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes
computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs)
recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more
fully as a `non-transitory computer-readable storage medium`) to
perform the functions of one or more of the above-described
embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g.,
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the
functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and
by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus
by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable
instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of
one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling
the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of
the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or
more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro
processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate
computers or separate processors to read out and execute the
computer executable instructions. The computer executable
instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a
network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for
example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM),
a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing
systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital
versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD).TM.), a flash memory
device, a memory card, and the like.
[0080] While the present invention has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent structures and functions.
[0081] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2019-132794 filed Jul. 18, 2019, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
* * * * *